New respiratory clinic opens for coronavirus testing at Repatriation Hospital in Hobart

A new testing clinic has been opened in Hobart following increased fears of contracting the virus from the city’s first confirmed patient.

SOUTHERN Tasmanians will now have greater access to coronavirus testing with a new respiratory clinic opening on Davey St.

Health Minister Sarah Courtney announced the opening of a the new clinic at the Statton Building of the Repatriation Hospital on Tuesday.

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She said the clinic would be led by a team of nurses and would operate during normal business hours.

Sarah Courtney. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

General practitioners will also be able to direct people to attend the mobile clinic if required, provided they have seen the person as a patient and deemed it necessary.

The clinic will not be open for walk-in testing, and all patients must still be referred by Public Health Services.

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Ms Courtney said after being referred to the clinic, patients will be assessed by a nurse and asked to return home to self-isolate until they get their test result.

“I strongly urge all those who have been asked to self-isolate post-testing to ensure that they follow these very clear instructions,” Ms Courtney said.

“Testing has been available since late January and progressively expanded to the public hospitals, three Hobart Pathology collection centres, a clinic at the Royal Hobart Hospital and a mobile site in Launceston.

“Testing criteria are kept up-to-date with changing national recommendations, with a focus on persons returned from overseas with respiratory symptoms and persons who are contacts of cases.

“So far, 126 tests have been completed in Tasmania with two positive cases. Both of these patients remain at hospital in stable conditions.”

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The Launceston clinic is close to the LGH emergency department.